Iowa State understands what is at stake in the final two games of the regular season.

A second-place finish is still up for the Cyclones (20-6, 11-5 Big 12) as they travel to TCU on March 2 to take on the struggling Horned Frogs (8-19, 1-15). ISU coach Bill Fennelly said his team will need to focus on one important aspect.

“I think the biggest thing is creating a level of energy and enthusiasm with your team,” Fennelly said. “It’s a venue that their crowds haven’t been very big at and I think it’s going to be a different environment than our kids are used to.”

Forward Hallie Christofferson sided with Fennelly, believing her team will have to create their own energy in an arena that had 2,165 fans at its last game. Another adjustment for the Cyclones will be preparing for a TCU team that plays predominantly zone defense.

“There’s a couple different plays,” Christofferson said of her role against a zone defense. “Sometimes it’s run baseline and sometimes it’s stay out on the perimeter and shoot 3s like Brynn [Williamson] and I are capable of.”

Williamson said the key to playing against a zone defense will be to look inside to the post players, who will then attempt to kick to outside shooters.

“Hallie will probably get a lot of good looks,” Williamson said. “[TCU doesn’t] have a lot of size to them and our post players can either get layups or if they do get the pressure, just kick it out. It should be a really good assist night for them.”

In traveling to Texas for the fourth time this season, Iowa State is still in search of playing a “complete game.” This means they need to score well, take care of the ball, defend and stay out of foul trouble.

“That very rarely happens,” Fennelly said. “The thing I think most coaches would look to is, if it’s not going to be 40 [minutes], then the minutes that it’s not cannot be the minutes that is going to cost you in losing the game. Maybe you don’t play great for four or five minutes, but you don’t hurt yourself.”

The Horned Frogs, in their inaugural season in the Big 12, have mustered one conference win, a 64-63 victory against Oklahoma State. Williamson said the key to playing a team like TCU is to make sure the team is well-rested. 

“I think it’s just going there and when we come back, it’s going to be a completely different mindset for a game,” Williamson said. “It’s just one of those things; you go game to game in this league. Your defense changes and your offensive plan changes.”

Tipoff between Iowa State and TCU will be at 4 p.m. March 2 in Fort Worth, Texas, at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.